Grace Liu

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Grace Liu

Biography: Grace Liu was born in Jinan, China, and immigrated to the United States when she was nine months old. Growing up in Colorado, she developed a love for the outdoors, skiing and hiking. Her interest in business economics stemmed from her involvement in DECA and Student Senate in high school, as these experiences showed her the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in holistic problem-solving. 

At UCLA, Grace delved into consulting. Her involvement in Bruin Women in Business Club and 180 Degrees Consulting Club enabled her to apply the technical knowledge from her coursework in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Accounting to real-world scenarios in developing financial recommendations for businesses. What resonated with her was the opportunity to establish genuine connections and truly understand the intricacies of her clients’ financial situations. This led her to transition towards wealth management, where she is excited by the prospect of guiding individuals and families through their financial journeys. 

 

Future Plans: Grace is committed to contributing meaningfully to clients’ lives through strategic investment strategies and sustainable, ethical practices. She strives to pursue a career in wealth management and leverage her financial expertise to provide clients with sophisticated solutions for protecting and growing their wealth. Next summer, Grace will join Goldman Sachs as a Private Wealth Management Summer Analyst in the San Francisco office. Ultimately, she envisions herself succeeding as a seasoned wealth manager at Goldman Sachs. 

 

What this scholarship means to me: I aim to pursue a career in wealth management, leveraging my expertise in economics to optimize investment portfolios, mitigate risks, and maximize returns for clients. My family’s current situation, with my father in a transitional phase of employment, underscores the significance of financial assistance in alleviating the burden of educational expenses. Despite this circumstance, my dedication to academic pursuits remains unwavering, evidenced by my consistent academic performance and active engagement in extracurricular activities related to economics. The Donald Lipschutz Scholarship will not only provide crucial financial support but also enable me to continue my academic journey uninterrupted, ultimately empowering me to contribute meaningfully to the field of economics in the future. 

Bryzen Morales

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Bryzen Morales

Biography: Bryzen Enzo Morales is an undergraduate student at UCLA, pursuing three majors in Economics, Public Affairs, and Labor Studies. Before immigrating to the United States, he grew up in the Philippines, where he was exposed to social issues and social problems many Filipinos face in their daily life.  Additionally, as a son of former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), he has always known that opportunities, through public policies, can shape life outcomes and economic mobility. His lived experiences have motivated him to be committed in pursuing extracurricular activities and projects that contributes to the greater social good. 

On campus, he is currently an undergraduate student researcher at the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK), a research center that specializes in empirical spatial analysis to inform timely, relevant, and action-oriented policy research on neighborhoods, low-income and minority communities, and immigrant enclaves. He was also an undergraduate community-engaged scholar who collaborated in a community-engaged research project with the LA Garment Workers Center (GWC) to assess the feasibility of a high-road garment industry here in LA by performing a product-market fit research for a staffing cooperative at GWC. Additionally, he was also an undergraduate research assistant for the Digital Equity and Anti-Oppression Lab, a research lab focusing on social determinants of mental health among minority communities. 

 

Future Plans: After graduation, Bryzen hopes to expand his research skills by applying to various public policy related pre-doctoral fellowship programs many universities offer across the U.S. In the future, he hopes to pursue a PhD in Public Policy and/or Public Administration, focusing on social policy and social intervention related to poverty and inequality, mobility, income support programs, and social safety net among marginalized communities. Ultimately, he hopes to become a research professor who will not just teach and produce research, but a professor that will advocate and translate to the public, in a national and international context, for a greater social impact. Ultimately, he hopes to use his PhD training to inform evidence-based policy that addresses social problems and social challenges the world faces.

 

What this scholarship means to me: I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Wark family as a scholarship recipient for this year. This scholarship truly alleviated my worry of covering my school expenses for this academic year. Nevertheless, this scholarship opportunity truly allowed me to focus on my academics, research, and community-engagement endeavors for my final year here in UCLA. This scholarship also means a lot to me as it signifies the Wark family’s confidence and trust in my ability to make a meaningful impact on the world. This scholarship is for my family, my friends, and my community who has shaped me the way I see the world. Padayon! (English Translation: Carry on!). 

Megan Monroe

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Megan Monroe

Biography: Megan Monroe is a second-year Business Economics student at UCLA with a deep-rooted passion for music and law. Driven by her love for both law and music, Megan aspires to combine these passions into a career as an entertainment lawyer. Megan recognizes the significance in understanding markets, consumer behavior, and supply chains and is focusing on developing a solid foundation in business and economics. 

Currently, Megan serves as the Business Affairs Manager at Cherry Pop Records, UCLA’s student-run label. Here she manages contracts and oversees artists’ analytics. Her dedication to both her studies and hands-on experience reflects her commitment to making a meaningful impact in the music industry. Through her involvement in Cherry Pop Records and her pursuit of a Music Industry Minor, Megan hopes to deepen her understanding of copyright law and musicology. Megan’s blend of academic knowledge, practical experience, and unwavering passion allows her to carve a unique path to the music industry.  

 

Future Plans: Megan plans to pursue a career in the music industry following the completion of their undergraduate degree in business/economics. Currently, Megan works with Cherry Pop Records as their business affairs manager and plans to use the knowledge and experience gained there to secure an internship with a major record label in the fall. Post-graduation, Megan plans to attend law school with a specialization in entertainment law. With a law degree she will be able to advocate for the rights of songwriters and producers within the music industry. Megan’s long-term career goal is to work as an in-house entertainment lawyer for a record label. She also plans on leveraging her expertise in economics to analyze streaming data, assess market trends, and contribute to the strategic decision-making processes for record labels.  

 

What this scholarship means to me: I am very honored and thankful to be a recipient of The Patricia and Harry L. Bruce Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship gives me both financial support and serves as a source of motivation to myself. With this support, I can devote my summer to furthering my education instead of having the pressure to find a job. This summer I am studying abroad in Spain where I will immerse myself in the culture and language there. This opportunity is important to me since I value exploring diverse cultures. Besides the financial relief this provides, it also shows me that my hard work and dedication is worthwhile. This scholarship reinforces that I have a community supporting me on my academic journey and want to see me succeed. I am very thankful for this scholarship and look forward to using it to advance both my educational and career aspirations. 

Urania Li

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Urania Li

Biography: Urania Li is a third-year student at UCLA, double majoring in Business Economics and Political Science with a concentration in Political Theory. Throughout her academic journey, she has gained substantial experience through internships in investment banking and startup incubators, where she developed strong financial analysis skills and business acumen. Additionally, her internships at law firms have provided her with a solid understanding of litigation settings, particularly with documents in the discovery phase. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Urania enjoys an active lifestyle. In her free time, she loves hiking, snorkeling, and watching TV shows. These activities provide a balance to her rigorous academic schedule and allow her to explore her interests and unwind.  

 

Future Plans: Urania Li has clear and ambitious plans for her future. She intends to gain valuable experience through a legal assistant internship with a small law firm focusing on business law, which will provide her with practical insights and skills in the legal field. This hands-on experience will be crucial as she prepares for her post-graduation journey. After completing her undergraduate studies, Urania plans to attend law school to further her education and deepen her understanding of business law. Her ultimate career goal is to become a lawyer specializing in international business law. With a passion for global commerce and justice, Urania aims to navigate the complexities of international legal systems and contribute to the resolution of cross-border business disputes. Her dedication to this path reflects her commitment to excellence and her desire to make a meaningful impact in the field of business. 

 

What this scholarship means to me: Receiving this scholarship will significantly alleviate my family’s financial burden and help me manage tuition and other expenses with less stress. With this support, I can focus more on my studies and have the opportunity to participate in meaningful extracurricular activities that will enrich my academic experience. This financial assistance provides me with the freedom to fully engage in my education and personal development without the constant worry of financial constraints. Beyond the financial relief, this scholarship holds profound personal significance. It is a validation of my hard work and dedication, reinforcing my belief in my potential to succeed. It motivates me to strive for excellence and to give back to the community that has supported me. Knowing that others believe in my future inspires me to work even harder, and I am deeply grateful for this vote of confidence. 

Xiaohong Huang

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Xiaohong Huang

Biography: Xiaohong Huang is a rising junior at UCLA, majoring in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting. As a first-generation college student, she has always been driven to achieve academic excellence, fueled by her passion for learning and determination to excel in her studies of Economics and Accounting. Xiao is also passionate about engaging in community service because she believes it makes all resources and assistance more accessible to people living in underprivileged communities. On campus, Xiao has participated in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance to provide low-income individuals and families with free tax return filing services. She has also engaged in One Bus One Cause, providing assistance to local communities, including helping with food insecurity, promoting urban wildlife habitat, and fostering educational opportunities in elementary schools. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, building Legos, hiking, and exploring new places. 

 

Future Plans: In the short term, Xiao’s academic focus is on completing the necessary accounting class units, a vital step towards her goal of qualifying for the CPA exam and earning the certification to become a Certified Public Accountant. After graduation, her career ambition is to secure a tax position within the Big Four’s international rotation program. She believes this role would provide her with invaluable exposure to diverse global experiences, fostering a mobile mindset essential for thriving in today’s interconnected business landscape. In the long term, her aim is to establish a non-profit organization dedicated to offering free or affordable accounting and financial services to a broader spectrum of low-income individuals and families, promoting financial literacy, and making financial resources more accessible in underprivileged communities. 

 

What this scholarship means to me: First of all, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the generous donors of this scholarship and to Professor Harry Simons. I am deeply honored and thankful to have been selected as the recipient of the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. Receiving this scholarship not only alleviates my financial burden of pursuing higher education but also allows me to dedicate more time and energy to my academic and professional endeavors within the field of accounting. This scholarship enables me to uphold my commitment to community service with my professional knowledge and give back the kindness I’ve received. Moreover, it serves as a source of inspiration, reminding me of the unwavering support and encouragement I have received throughout my academic journey at UCLA and empowering me to keep moving forward.  

Alexandra Dimitreli

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Alexandra Dimitreli

Biography: Alexandra is a rising senior double major, studying Business Economics and International Development Studies,  and a concentration in Value Investing. In addition to her studies, she is the Director of the Consumer Goods Division of Bruin Asset Management, working with club members to analyze publicly traded companies in quarterly stock pitches, as well as a member of the Finance Committee for UCLA Alumni Scholars Club, conducting workshops to promote financial literacy. Aside from school and work, Alexandra enjoys spending time with her family and friends, working out, cooking and baking, or playing with her dogs.

 

Future Plans: Alexandra plans on pursuing a career in retail Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), working in the beauty industry. This summer, she will be joining Sephora in San Francisco as their FP&A summer intern, conducting financial analysis to derive trends, drivers, metrics, and other characteristics to provide structure and guidance in business decision-making. Alexandra will focus on forecasting financial framework and team strategies, utilizing historical demand to optimize costs and merchandise flow. Previously, she was an MP&A intern at Goop and worked at Ulta Beauty in their merchandise financial planning and operations strategy department.

 

What this scholarship means to me: This scholarship will help me continue to move forward with my goals as it serves as a reminder and recognition for the hard work, dedication, and consistent commitment I have had towards my scholastic, community, and professional endeavors. Additionally, the scholarship may fund my school program, where I am working towards being trilingual, so that I may be able to interact and serve a greater number of members in our community. Currently, I speak English and Spanish, and am learning Norwegian which will allow me to engage in thoughtful conversations with the international audience to share and learn from each other, as I would love to learn about the economies around the world. Life is precious and having the opportunity to experience various cultures and engage with different people would be a generous gift at my young age.

Hamish Buran

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Hamish Buran

Biography: Hamish Buran is currently a junior at UCLA studying Business Economics and pursuing a minor in Musicology. After growing up in Los Angeles, California, Hamish chose to remain close to home and attend UCLA due to its tremendous academic reputation, along with its incomparable student environment, sports teams, and facilities. While at UCLA, Hamish has participated in many extracurricular activities and organizations, including his tenure as the Director of Career Development at the Undergraduate Business Society, Vice-President of Scholars of Finance, Associate in Bruin Value Investing, Member of Best Buddies International Organization, and participant in plenty of intramural sports teams. Outside of academics, Hamish enjoys many activities including piano, electric guitar, watching sports, swimming at the beach, soccer, golf, pickleball, and spending time with friends and family. 

 

Future Plans: Following his junior year, Hamish Buran will spend his summer in New York City working at Morgan Stanley within their Global Industrials Investment Banking team. Upon completion of the internship, he aspires to receive a full-time return offer to resume work at the firm after graduation from UCLA. After several years in the investment banking industry, Hamish plans to work in the field of private equity before eventually entering into the entrepreneurial world through his own ventures. 

 

What this scholarship means to me: I am incredibly grateful and honored to have received the John J. Peterson Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarships have been the primary reason for my ability to continue my education at UCLA, and I am very appreciative of them. Going into my senior year is a very strange concept, as it feels as though college has flown by in the blink of an eye. However, because of scholarships, I have been able to comfortably navigate the school and gain all of the experiences, education, and friendships that I possibly could during my time at this university.

Alex Guzman

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Alex Guzman

Biography: Alex Guzman is the proud son of two hardworking Guatemalan parents. At a young age, he demonstrated qualities of being proactive, tenacious, devoted, and disciplined due to watching and admiring his parents. These qualities gave him the foundation to excel academically and in other extracurricular activities. Alex was also able to obtain and hone various valuable skills through the sports he participated in throughout his childhood, particularly soccer in which he learned the importance of communication, cooperation, and understanding one’s role. Ultimately, his efforts and accomplishments in both school and sports came to fruition, landing him the honor of enrolling in the University of California of Los Angeles after graduating from high school. At this prestigious school, Alex continues to thrive in his education keeping a record of straight A’s, while balancing his part-time job. 

In addition, Alex’s parents owned a humble convenience store in downtown Los Angeles. Upon growing up, he would devote the majority of his free time to helping his parents, especially during the pandemic. In that store, Alex developed a strong passion for business and an urge to help his parent’s financial endeavors. For these reasons, he is strongly determined to secure a top position as a financial advisor to take care of his parents and their business with the expertise he obtains. 

Future Plans: Alex Guzman plans to retire his parents one day and as soon as possible. Therefore, during his time at UCLA, Alex has been pursuing higher education and is in the process of securing internships at well-respected firms. Alex has continued to broaden his connections with people in his school, and those he has been in contact with through his internship application. Furthermore, post-graduation, Alex aims to pursue his MBA or gain a tremendous amount of valuable work experience as a financial advisor or wealth management associate. Ultimately, he wants to use his wisdom and experience to enhance his parent’s small business and secure a well-paying job at a high-level corporation. Alex aspires to become an important figure at his future corporation. Moreover, he will climb the corporate ladder, ultimately securing prestigious positions and having a heavy impact in the time that he is there. 

What this scholarship means to me: First and foremost, I am eternally grateful and appreciative of this honor from the bottom of my heart and soul. My decision to commit to UCLA was heavily influenced by scholarships as receiving them allowed my dreams to become a reality. Due to my family’s financial situation, the primary wall preventing me from accomplishing my dream was the fees and expenses to attend this prestigious school. Thus, when I first received my acceptance letter, it was a bittersweet moment as I realized I had been accepted by my dream school but would have to be burdened with thousands of dollars in loans. However, I have been blessed by these scholarships throughout the years as they helped make the cost of attending UCLA more affordable. As I come to a close in my second year, I can proclaim how important these scholarships were in attending UCLA. After seeing the tuition, cost of living, and other expenses pile up in my BruinBill I am relieved and once again reminded of how grateful I am to be granted these scholarships. Furthermore, this scholarship in particular will immensely contribute to my living circumstances next year, lifting another financial burden off my shoulders. 

Once again, thank you so much for choosing me as the recipient of this esteemed scholarship. The stress of having to pay these expenses has been drastically diminished for me and my parents. You have extremely helped keep my dream of graduating as a UCLA Bruin alive. Thank you. 

Roxanne Ha

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Roxanne Ha

Biography: Roxanne Ha is a third year Business Economics major and a Professional Writing and Accounting minor from Los Angeles. She is passionate about creative writing and giving back to her community, which has led to her joining The Writer’s Den, an on-campus student organization that offers creative writing workshops to students across campus as well as students in local elementary, middle, and high schools, and VITA where she helps low-income taxpayers file their income tax returns. In the upcoming school year, she will serve as the Vice President of The Writer’s Den, working to organize weekly meetings and create weekly email newsletters about social and volunteering events. She is also in Bruin Women in Business, Beta Alpha Psi, BruinLife, and Business in Entertainment Association. In her free time, she enjoys reading horror novels, baking, dancing, and traveling.

 

Future Plans: Roxanne’s future career plan is to pursue a career in public accounting, specifically in audit, after graduating in 2025 and continue expanding her knowledge in learning about different industries, such as the TMT, nonprofit, finance, and consulting industries. As she is constantly curious about new opportunities to grow her career, Roxanne plans to prepare for and take the CPA exam to equip her with the credentials needed to explore other roles that might appeal to her later down the road, such as working within industry accounting or in finance. She hopes to stay connected with her mentors and professionals from various firms to gain a wider understanding of potential career paths for her.  

 

What this scholarship means to me: I am so humbled and grateful to be awarded the UCLA Professor Harry Simons Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship for the Study of Accounting. It means more than anyone knows to be recognized for my hard work and to receive support to pursue my career goals, and I am incredibly thankful to the donors of this scholarship as well as to Professor Harry Simons. Throughout this year, I have continuously pushed myself to step outside my comfort zone and challenged myself to grow through difficult coursework and reach out to peers and professionals to learn more about their roles and backgrounds. To me, this award is an acknowledgement of my efforts, struggles, and ambition. This scholarship will help me pursue more of my career goals by providing me with funds to invest my time into extracurricular programs and courses that can supplement my CPA education requirements, such as equipping me with additional training and Excel courses that would be useful to bring to my future career. Thank you again for rewarding me with the Professor Harry Simons Endowed Scholarship. 

Nathan Goldberg

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Nathan Goldberg

Biography: Nathan Goldberg is a third-year Economics major at UCLA. He is minoring in Environmental Systems and Society and also plans to obtain a minor in Accounting. He is originally from East County San Diego, where he lived until attending UCLA. His goal is to work in public accounting as an auditor after he graduates. Nathan is currently a pledge for UCLA’s accounting society, Beta Alpha Psi. He is also a Co-Chair for the Zero Waste Campaign of E3 (Ecology, Economy, Equity), one of UCLA’s largest environmental organizations. Some of his outside interests include hiking, cycling, photography, and traveling. 

 

Future Plans: After he graduates from UCLA, Nathan Goldberg’s plan is to work in public accounting as an auditor. His goal is to work for one of the Big 4 accounting firms, though he is happy to work for any public accounting firm in Los Angeles. During the next academic year, Nathan hopes to work in an accounting-related internship. He is considering pursuing a master’s in accountancy but most likely plans to move straight into full-time work after his undergraduate studies.

 

What this scholarship means to me: This scholarship will be of tremendous value toward the remainder of my education and beyond, and so I am immensely grateful to the Wark family for their generosity. As we all know, college is an investment into one’s future self, and that investment can often be large and burdensome. This scholarship will help alleviate a great deal of this financial burden on both me and my family. This is especially helpful since I have a sibling who is also currently enrolled in college, which amplifies the financial strain. Most importantly, this scholarship will allow me to focus my mind and energy more purely on my academics and career ambitions, rather than finances. This clarity of mind will set the most ideal conditions for me to maximize my academic performance here at UCLA. Furthermore, it is well-known that the financial burden of college can carry on well into one’s full-time employment, as it can be difficult to set money aside for the future. Therefore, this scholarship will be of immense help not only now but also in the years following my graduation, allowing me to focus my energy toward excelling at my job and preparing for the CPA exam.